Terminal for electric-light fixtures.



P. W. WAKEFIELD. TERMINAL FOR BLEOTRIG LIGHT FIXTURES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1913.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

1 1! ll |||LH n| barren STATES PATENT FFIQE.

FREDERICK W. WAKEFIELD, 0F VERMILION, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE F. W. WAKE- FIELD BRASS COMPANY, OF VERIVIILION, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

TERMINAL FOR ELECTRIC-LIGHT FIXTURES.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FREDERICK l/V. WAKE- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Vermilion, county of Erie, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Terminals for Electric- Light Fixtures, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My invention relates to a terminal or coupling for electric light fixtures and is intended to provide a construction which may be rapidly and conveniently assembled without the necessity for using tools of any description.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention as applied to a pendant arm; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. & is a perspective view of a closed link forming one element of the invention; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the invention as applied to a canopy; Fig. 6 is a perspective View of one of the elements of Fig. 5; and Fig. 7 is a similar view of one of the open links.

In Fig. 1, I show the terminal or coupling applied to a pendant arm 1, the device there shown consisting of a closed terminal member 2 and an open member 3, such two members being interconnected and the latter being resiliently and removably engaged with a nipple, or, as it is known to the trade, a nozzle, l, which will be engaged in a lamp socket 5. The construction of the nipple is, of course, of little importance except as regards that part which has to do with the open terminal 3. The closed member 2 consists of two strips of metal 6 which are formed at their upper ends as shown in Fig. t, adapting them to contact and to thus form a hollow square which will be inserted in the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1913.

Patented Apr. 1 1, 1914:. Serial No. 757,503.

opening of the pendant arm 1 where they w1ll be suitably held, preferably by means of screws 7 The metal strips 6 are rebent at their ends and are so formed that such rebent portions 16 will resiliently contact each other throughout their length, thus forming a construction which is adapted to receive the open terminal 3 which may be slipped in between the rebent portions by spreading the same. When the member 3 has been inserted between the rebent portions of the closed member and has been turned until it assumes the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the closed member is locked against accidental opening, and the construction is as secure as if a chain of entirely closed links were used, although it is possible to readily disengage the open member from the closed member by merely spreading the rebent portions of the latter and withdrawing the former.

The open member consists of a flat plate or metal strip having converging sides 9 which are formed with extending lugs 10 at their lower ends. The nipple 4 is provided with a plate or flange 11 in which are formed two oppositely disposed notches 12. Such plate may he slipped between the con verging arms of the terminal 3 at the wider portion of the same, the notches 12 engaging the converging arms when the plate may be slipped down between the arms to the narrower portion of the same until the notches 12 are adjacent to the lugs 10. The plate and the open terminal will be so formed that in this relation a slight spreading effect is exercised on the latter, thus securing a resilient fit between its arms and the plate.

In case the member to which the coupling must be attached is a nipple, as will usually be the case when a canopy 13 is used, it is only necessary to attach to such nipple a plate 11 which will receive an open member 3, the latter being engaged as shown by a second open member which will be attached to a second nipple adapted to engage a lamp socket 5. The use of the present terminal is, of course, not limited to connection with the types of supports here shown as it may be advantageously employed in either wall, or ceiling brackets, pendant arms and other types of fixtures. For some applications it may be desired to employ a female nipple instead of the male nipple here illustrated, and

this or similar changes will in no way depart from the present invention.

The advantages of this construction are the simplicity, the ease and convenience of assembly, and the extremely low cost of manufacture, as it will be seen that the links consist merely of stamped metal pieces properly assembled.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as re gards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. The combination of a plate having oppositely disposed notches in its outer edges,

I with a terminal member having converging arms provided with lugs on the inner faces of the same, whereby said plate may be slipped between said armsat the wider portion of the space between the arms, said arms engaging in the notches, and thereupon said plate may be moved toward the narrower portion of the space between the arms until said plate engages the lugs.

2.- The combination of a circular plate having two oppositely disposed notches in its outer edge with an open terminal memher having two converging arms being pr0 yided with lugs on the inner faces of the same, the diameter of said plate between such notches being slightly greater than the distance between said arms adjacent such lugs.

: Signed by me, this 26th day of March, 11913.

FREDERICK W. l/VAKEFIELD.

Attested by- Gno. KLAAR, GEO. MAPns, J r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

